Area Residents Weigh In On Texas Secession Petition

WACO (November 13, 2012)-An online petition is taking the Internet and social media websites by storm.

On Nov. 9, just days after the general election, a petition was filed on the White House website asking that Texas be allowed to secede from the United States.

Many Central Texans have already signed the petition.

As of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday evening, the petition had 89,540 signatures.

It only needs 25,000 to warrant a response from President Obama.

And even though it's illegal to secede from the union would it even be a good idea for the Lone Star State?

Baylor Professor Mike Parrish says "No."

"Secession is impossible in this day and age," Parrish said.

"Not only is it illegal, it makes no sense whatsoever."

Secession didn't bode well for America during the Civil War.

Regardless, disgruntled Texans are asking for it nearly 150 years later.

"The conditions were entirely different in the 1860's," Parrish said.

"I don't think the stakes are nearly as high today when it comes to talk about secession."

Many think since Texas began as an independent nation in 1836, it reserves the right to secede from the U.S.

But when Texas was annexed by the U.S. in 1845, it never reserved the right and after the Civil War couldn’t have legally exercised it in any event.

But what if Texas were to secede from the U.S.?

Here are just a few of the consequences that would come with secession:

-Texas would have to create its own military. -All federal spending sent to Texas would be cut. This includes everything given for schools, hospitals, highways, etc. -Texas would have to create its own currency and national banking system.-Texas would have to regulate trade and commerce with other countries.-The Texas Legislature would likely have to act as Congress.

Parrish says this all is too much for Texas to handle.

"Creating a nation is not that easy. We'd have to tax more, undertake more responsibility, and I don't think Texas citizens would be willing or able to do all of those things,” Parrish said.

President Obama has yet to comment about the petition. But Gov. Rick Perry, who sounded as if he might favor secession last year, has already said he won't support the petition.

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